Exercise apparatus

ABSTRACT

An exercising apparatus includes a movable unit on which a user straddles and a driving unit for driving the movable unit. The driving unit changes a state of the movable unit to provide the user with an exercising load. A storage part stores corresponding relationships between the states of the movable unit and the messages, and a state detector detects the state of the movable unit at approximately the same timing as the output timing determined by an output timing determination part. A message output part outputs messages corresponding to the user&#39;s postures repeatedly during a period of providing the user with an exercising load. The message output part extracts the message corresponding to the state of the movable unit detected by the state detector from the storage part and outputs the extracted message at the output timing determined by the output timing determination part.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention belongs to a technical field of an exercisingapparatus for providing a user with an exercise load.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In recent years, great attentions have been paid for an exercisingapparatus providing a user with an exercise load similar to a horseriding by rocking a sheet on which the user straddles. The exercisingapparatus is widely used among users of various generations fromchildren to elderly persons and spread to general households as well asrehabilitation purpose medical facilities.

This type of the exercising apparatus is, for example, disclosed in,e.g., Japanese Patent Laid-open Application No. 2007-260184 (PatentDocument). The Patent Document discloses a technique for varying aninclination angle of an upper half body of a user who straddles on aseat by means of changing a position of the seat portion on which theuser's hip portion is placed by expanding and contracting an airbagbuilt in the seat. Further, in the Patent Document, there is described“Preferably, a storage part stores preset operation patterns of theairbag 4, and a period, a cycle, and a degree of expansion of the airbag 4 set by a user “A” through the control panel 35 and operationpatterns thereof. With such configuration, a type of exercise andexercise strength can be selected by every user “A” at the time wheneverthe user uses the exercising apparatus, which assists to optimize andmaintain the exercise effects.

In order for a user to perform an effective exercise by using such anexercising apparatus, the user needs to take an appropriate posturedepending on a movement (e.g., an inclination state and a rocking speed)of the seat. However, user's actual posture is often displaced from theappropriate posture.

Thus, when the user's actual posture is displaced from the appropriateposture, an exercise load applied to the user's body will possibly beexcessive or less. In this case, it becomes difficult for the user toperform effective and efficient exercise.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of the above, the present invention provides an exercisingapparatus capable of allowing a user to perform an effective andefficient exercise.

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided anexercising apparatus including: a movable unit on which a userstraddles; a driving unit for driving the movable unit, the driving unitchanging a state of the movable unit to provide the user with anexercising load; a message output part for outputting a messagecorresponding to the user's posture repeatedly during a period ofproviding the user with the exercise load; an output timingdetermination part for determining an output timing of the message bythe message output part; a storage part stores correspondingrelationships between the states of the movable unit and the messages;and a state detector for detecting the state of the movable unit atapproximately the same timing as the output timing determined by theoutput timing determination part. The message output part extracts amessage corresponding to the state of the movable unit detected by thestate detector from the storage part and outputs the message at theoutput timing determined by the output timing determination unit.

According to such configuration, a state of the movable unit is detectedat the output timing determined by the output timing determination part,and simultaneously a message corresponding to the state of the movableunit is outputted. Accordingly, the message can provide a user with anadvice for his or her posture which should be taken, thereby guiding theuser's posture to be appropriate.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the state of the movableunit includes an inclination state of the movable unit. The storage partstores the messages prepared depending on the inclination state of themovable unit. The message output part extracts one of the messagescorresponding to the inclination state detected by the state detectorfrom the storage part to output the message.

According to such configuration, the message corresponding to theinclination state of the movable unit is outputted, thereby enabling toguide the user's posture affected by the inclination state to beappropriate.

In another embodiment of the present invention, the state of the movableunit includes a rocking speed of the movable unit. The storage partstores the messages prepared depending on the rocking speed of themovable unit. The message output part extracts one of the messagescorresponding to the rocking speed detected by the state detector fromthe storage part to output the message.

According to such configuration, the message corresponding to therocking speed of the movable unit is outputted, thereby enabling toguide the user's posture affected by the rocking speed to beappropriate.

In still another embodiment of the present invention, a number of user'spostures to be taken are determined with respect to each of the statesof the movable unit. Further, a number of messages are prepared withrespect to each of respective combinations of the user's postures to betaken and the states of the movable unit. The storage part stores theuser's postures and the messages. The message output part randomlyselects one message, among the messages, corresponding to the user'sposture to be taken, which is determined with respect to the state ofthe movable unit detected by the state detector, and outputs themessage.

According to such configuration, one message that is randomly selectedamong the messages corresponding to the user's postures to be taken isoutputted as if an instructor guides, wherein the user's postures aredetermined with respect to the state of the movable unit detected by thestate detector. Accordingly the exercising apparatus in accordance withthe present invention allows users to hold such a feeling that theusers, themselves, are guided by the instructor, thereby improving itsattractiveness.

In still another embodiment of the present invention, the output timingdetermination part determines an output timing of a message at random.

According to such configuration, since the output timing determinationunit determines the output timing of the message at random as if aninstructor is guiding and outputs the message, the exercising apparatusin accordance with the present invention allows users to hold such afeeling that the users, themselves, are guided by the instructor. Thus,attractiveness of the exercising apparatus can be improved.

In still another embodiment of the present invention, the messagesstored in the storage part are prepared depending on an elapsed timeafter starting to drive the movable unit by the driving unit. Here, theelapsed time from the starting point of the movable unit is equivalentto the output timing determined by the output timing determination part.The message output part extracts the messages in association with theelapsed time from the storage part, and outputs the extracted messages.

According to such configuration, the message output part outputs themessage in association with the elapsed time from the starting point ofthe movable unit driven by the driving unit. Therefore, the exercisingapparatus can output the message with considerations of user's fatiguethat is caused as the time passes, or the like. Thus, the user isallowed to perform an effective exercise.

In still another embodiment of the present invention, the storage partstores: a plurality of user's postures to be taken determined withrespect to each of the states of the movable unit; the messages preparedwith respect to each of respective combinations of the user's posturesto be taken and the states of the movable unit; and an output order ofthe messages with respect to each state of the movable unit. The messageoutput part outputs the messages corresponding to the state of themovable unit detected by the state detector, according to the outputorder of the messages stored in the storage part.

According to the present invention, it is possible for a user to performan effective and efficient exercise by outputting the messages inaccordance with the pre-determined output order. Here, the output ordermay be, for example, determined based on the probability of occurrenceof user's posture to be taken with regard to the state of the movableunit. Further, the output order may be determined as an order capable ofguiding the user's posture to be appropriate effectively. According tothe present invention, the exercising apparatus allows a user to performan effective and efficient exercise.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The objects and features of the present invention will become apparentfrom the following description of preferred embodiments, given inconjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an exercising apparatus inaccordance with a first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a side view of the exercising apparatus;

FIG. 3 is a side view showing an internal structure of the exercisingapparatus;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged side view of a rocking mechanism;

FIG. 5 is a top view of the rocking mechanism;

FIG. 6 is a rear view of the rocking mechanism;

FIGS. 7A and 7B are views for explaining movement of the seat;

FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing an electric configuration of theexercising apparatus;

FIG. 9 is a view showing an example of contents stored in the messagestorage part;

FIG. 10 is a flow chart showing a message output process in the controlunit of the first embodiment;

FIG. 11 is a view showing the modification of the contents stored in themessage storage part;

FIG. 12 is a view showing the modification of the contents stored in themessage storage part;

FIG. 13 is a flow chart showing a message output process in the controlunit of a second embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 14 is a view showing the modification of the contents stored in themessage storage part;

FIG. 15 is a flow chart showing a message output process in the controlsection of a third embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 16 is a view showing the modification of the contents stored in themessage storage part;

FIGS. 17A and 17B are a view showing the modification of the contentsstored in the message storage part;

FIG. 18 is a flow chart showing a message output process in the controlunit of a fourth embodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 19A and 19B are a flow chart showing a message output process inthe control unit of a fifth embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 20 is a view showing the modification of the contents stored in themessage storage part;

FIG. 21 is a view showing the outside of the display unit; and

FIG. 22 is a view showing a deformation form of the exercisingapparatus, and is a flow chart showing a warning process carried outbefore the user inputs a start command.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS First Embodiment

A first embodiment of the exercising apparatus in accordance with thepresent invention will be described in the following. FIG. 1 is anoutside perspective view showing the first embodiment of the exercisingapparatus in accordance with the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a sideview of the exercising apparatus.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, an exercising apparatus 1 includes a seat 2having approximately a horseback or a saddle shape on which a user canstraddle and sit down; a rocking mechanism 3 for rocking the seat 2; alifting mechanism 4 for moving up and down the seat 2 between an upperposition “U” and a lower position “D” by an electric motor and a rackpinion gear, to adjust a height of the seat 2; a pair of foot rests 6suspended by a pair of hinge pins 5 which is provided on right and leftsides of the seat 2, the foot rest being rotatable in theforward/backward direction and having a wheel part on which a user putshis or her toes at a lower end thereof; a handle 7 provided in the frontportion of the seat 2 so as to be pivotally moved in theforward/backward direction; and a leg 8 supporting the seat 2 and therocking unit 3.

FIG. 3 is a side view showing an internal structure of the exercisingapparatus 1, FIG. 4 is an enlarged side view showing the rockingmechanism 3, FIG. 5 is the top view thereof, and FIG. 6 is a rear viewthereof. In FIGS. 3, 4 and 6, two-dotted chain lines show the state of arocking mechanism 3 when making a reciprocating movement.

A seat connection member 9 on which the seat 2 is mounted is pivotallysupported on a pivotal support member 11 via pairs of link members 10respectively provided on the left side and the right side of theexercising apparatus 1, so that the seat connection member 9 rocksforward and backward. The pivotal support member 11 is pivotallysupported on a base member 12, so that the pivotal support member 11rocks leftward and rightward. A driving unit 13 is disposed between theseat connection member 9 and the pivotal support member 11. The linkmembers 10 include front link members 10 a and rear link members 10 b.An upper end of the front link member 10 a is pivotally connected to anupper pin 9 a attached to a front end of the seat connection member 9,and a lower end of the front link member 10 a is pivotally connected toa lower pin 15 a attached to a front end of a side wall 16 of thepivotal support member 11. An upper end of the rear link member 10 b ispivotally connected to an upper pin 9 b attached to a rear end of theseat connection member 9, and a lower end of the rear link member 10 bis pivotally connected to a lower pin 15 b attached to a rear end of theside wall 14 of the pivotal support member 11. The front and rear lowerpins 15 a, 15 b constitute lateral axes 15, 15 extending in theleft-right direction. The link members 10, 10 are pivotally supported bythe front and rear lateral axes 15, 15 about the Y axis extending in theleft-right direction. With this arrangement, the seat connection member9 is able to make reciprocating rotational motions about the lateralaxes 15, in forward and backward directions as indicated by the arrows“M” in FIG. 4.

As shown in FIGS. 4 and 6, upright pin support walls 16, 16 are formedat opposite ends of the base member 12 in the forward and backwarddirection shown by the arrows “X”, respectively. Linking flanges 17, 17extend downwards at opposite ends of the pivotal support member 11 inthe forward-backward direction “X” and at positions opposing the pinsupport walls 16, 16, respectively, and the linking flanges 17, 17 arepivotally connected to the corresponding pin support walls 16, 16 by wayof shafts 18 extending in the forward and backward direction. The shafts18 are respectively disposed in front and rear end portions of the basemember 12 at the center portion thereof to pivotally support the pivotalsupport member 11. With this arrangement, the seat connection member 9is allowed to make reciprocating rotational motions in leftward andrightward directions as indicated by the arrows “N” in FIG. 6 about theshafts 18, 18.

The driving unit 13 includes a motor 19 of a stand alone type, and afirst and a second driver 13 a, 13 b for converting a rotation torque ofan output shaft 20 of the motor 19 into rectilinear reciprocatingmotions in the forward and backward direction, i.e., in the X-directionsof the seat connection member 9, reciprocating rotational motions aboutthe lateral axes 15, 15, and reciprocating rotational motions about theshafts 18 to drive the seat 2 by combining these three differentmotions. The motor 19 in this embodiment is installed upright on thebase member 12, with the output shaft 20 extending vertically upward.

The first driver 13 a is used to make rectilinear reciprocating motionsin the X-direction, and reciprocating rotational motions about thelateral axes 15, 15. The second driver 13 b is used to makereciprocating rotational motions about the shafts 18. As shown in FIGS.4 and 5, the first driver 13 a includes a first shaft 23 which iscoupled to the output shaft 20 via a motor gear 21 and a first gear 22,an eccentric crank 24 (see FIG. 5) which is eccentrically connected toan end of the first shaft 17, and an arm link member 25 having an endthereof connected to the eccentric crank 24 and the other end thereofpivotally connected to a pin 10 c attached to the front link member 10a. The opposite ends of the first shaft 23 are respectively pivotallyconnected to the seat connection member 9. The eccentric crank 24 makeseccentric rotation relative to the first shaft 23. With thisarrangement, the front link member 10 a reciprocates in the X-directionvia the arm link member 25, whereby the seat connection member 9, i.e.,the seat 2 connected to the link members 10, 10 rocks in the directionof the arrows “M” shown in FIGS. 3 and 4.

As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the second driver 13 b includes a secondshaft 28 connected to an association gear 26 of the first shaft 23 via asecond gear 27, and an eccentric rod 29 having an end thereofeccentrically connected to an end of the second shaft 28 and the otherend thereof pivotally connected to the base member 12. The opposite endsof the second shaft 28 are respectively pivotally connected to the seatconnection member 9. The eccentric rod 29 is disposed on the left orright side of the seat connection member 9. In FIGS. 5 and 6, theeccentric rod 29 is disposed on the right side of the seat connectionmember 9. An upper end 29 a of the eccentric rod 29 is eccentricallyconnected to the end of the second shaft 28 by a pin 60 shown in FIG. 6.A lower end 29 b of the eccentric rod 29 is pivotally connected to asubstantially L-shaped bracket 30 secured to the base member 12 by ashaft pin. 31. With this arrangement, the upper end 29 a of theeccentric rod 29 makes eccentric rotation as the second shaft 28 isrotated, whereby the seat connection member 9, i.e., the seat 2 isenabled to make reciprocating rotational motions about the shafts 18 inthe direction of the arrows “N” shown in FIG. 6.

In the above construction, when the output shaft 20 extending upwardfrom the motor 19 is rotated, the first shaft 23 is rotated through thefirst gear 22 in mesh with the motor gear 21. Simultaneously, the secondshaft 28 is rotated through the second gear 27 in mesh with theassociation gear 26 of the first shaft 23. In association with therotation of the first shaft 23, the eccentric crank connected to the oneend of the first shaft 23 makes eccentric rotation, with the result thatthe front link member 10 a swings in the X-directions about the frontlateral axis 15 via the arm link member 25. At this time, the rear linkmember 10 b swings about the rear lateral axis in cooperation with thepivotal rotation of the front link member 10 a. Thereby, the seatconnection member 9, i.e., the seat 2 rocks while making reciprocatingmovements in the X-directions. On the other hand, the upper end 29 a ofthe eccentric rod 29 makes eccentric rotation as the second shaft 28 isrotated, whereby the seat connection member 9, i.e., the seat 2 makesreciprocating rotational motions about the shafts 18.

In this way, the seat 2 makes rocking motions in forward and backwarddirections, i.e., in X-directions, leftward and rightward directions,i.e., in Y-directions, upward and downward directions, i.e., inZ-directions, as well as swing motions in θX-directions, θY-directions,and θZ-directions (see FIGS. 7A and 7B), while the user straddles theseat 2, thereby allowing the user to exercise balance training orpromote physical fitness. Further, the apparatus 1 provides the threedifferent motions with use of the single motor 19. This arrangementcontributes to reduction of the number of motors to be used, provideseasy control, and provides an inexpensive and compact exercisingapparatus. Further, since the output shaft 20 of the motor extendsupward in one direction, the motor 19 is mountable in upright position.As compared with an arrangement that a motor is provided with two outputshafts extending in two different directions and is mounted intransverse position, this arrangement enables to reduce the installationspace for the entirety of the rocking mechanism including the motor 19,which contributes to miniaturization of the rocking mechanism 3.Thereby, the apparatus 1 can accurately reproduce an intended motionsimulating horseback riding, with the miniaturized rocking mechanism 3being housed in the seat 2.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing a system configuration of theexercising apparatus 1. The same configurations as those shown in FIGS.1 to 7 are identified by the same reference numerals, and theexplanation is omitted.

As shown in FIG. 8, the exercising apparatus 1 has a rocking mechanism3, a lifting mechanism 4, a display part 32, a sound output part 33, aninput operation part 34, sensor part 35, a storage part 36, and acontrol unit 37, wherein each of the above parts is operated by powersupply, for example, from a commercial power source.

The display part 32 has an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display), which displaysa video, message to a user (e.g., exercise levels, residual time andconsumed calorie) and so on. Note that the display part 32 may have aplasma display device instead of an LCD. Further, the display part 32may be provided with an LED (Light Emitting Diode) serving as lightemitting body, a seven-segment LED, or the like.

Besides, as shown in FIG. 21, the display part 32 may be provided withlight-emitting lamps 101 to 105 respectively indicating ON/OFF states ofvoice, sound effect, LED, an LCD, and a vibration function, andlight-emitting lamps 106, 107 respectively indicating ON/OFF states of aplurality of modes (here, an advanced mode and a beginner mode) havingvarious difficulties and loads in strength and speed of rocking the seat2.

The sound output part 33, for example, is composed of a loudspeakerconverting electric signal (sound signal) into audible sound, whichoutputs sounds such as music, message to a user.

The input operation part 34 is configured to include: a power button forturning on and off the main power supply of the exercising apparatus 1;a switch for selecting one of the plurality of modes having variousdifficulties and loads in strength and speed of rocking the seat 2; aswitch for regulating a height and an angle of the seat 2; and so on,which are not shown in the drawings. Further, the input operation part34 may be configured to affix a touch panel to the LCD panel, whereinthe touch panel is configured such that striped pressure-sensitiveelements made of transparent material are longitudinally and laterallyarranged at a predetermined pitch respectively and are covered with atransparent cover.

The sensor part 35 serves for detecting movement of the exercisingapparatus 1 and, for instance, is composed of an acceleration sensorwith a piezo-electric element. Note that the sensor part 35 serves fordetecting acceleration of the rocking motion in the forward and backwarddirection (the left and right direction in FIG. 2).

The storage part 36, for example, is composed of a nonvolatile memory orHDD, which memorizes various kinds of data. The storage part 36 may notonly be accommodated in the exercising apparatus 1, but also be attachedto the body of the exercising apparatus 1 detachably via connectingterminal, such as USB connector.

The control unit 37 has a microcomputer provided with: CPU (CentralProcessing Unit) (not shown); ROM (Read Only Memory) that stores aprogram regulating operations of the CPU; and RAM (Random Access Memory)having function for storing data temporarily or serving as a workspace.Thus the control unit 37 can manage whole control of the exercisingapparatus 1.

In the exercising apparatus 1 with the above configurations, thisembodiment is different from a conventional exercising apparatus in thatthe embodiment outputs the message in association with user's posturewhich should be taken in a real-time manner when the exercisingapparatus 1 is utilized (during a play).

In order to realize this function, in this embodiment, the storage part36 includes a message storage part 36 a that stores pre-determinedmessages to be outputted from the sound output part 33. Further, thecontrol unit 37 includes a message output timing determination part 38,a time counting part 39, a rocking speed detector 40, an inclinationstate detector 41, an output message determination part 42, and anoutput message control part 43.

The message storage part 36 a stores a plurality of messages. Themessages are, mainly, advice and instruction for guiding the user'sposture to be appropriate. For instance, in the case where theinclination state of the seat 2 is a “forward inclination” and therocking speed of the seat 2 has a certain level (e.g., level “1”),messages corresponding to such advices as “Stretch your upper half bodyupward straightly” and “Move your waist according to the movement so asnot to swing your head” are stored in the message storage part 36 a.Such messages are prepared for every combination of the inclinationstate and the rocking speed of the seat 2.

FIG. 9 exemplarily shows messages prepared in the case where theinclination state of the seat 2 is a “forward inclination” and therocking speed of the seat 2 has a certain level (e.g., level “1”).However, the message storage part 36 a may store messages prepared inthe case where the rocking speed of the seat 2 has another level otherthan the above-mentioned level and the inclination state of the seat 2is the “forward inclination”, or in the case where the inclination stateof the seat 2 is another inclination state other than theabove-mentioned “forward inclination” (e.g., “rearward inclination”) andthe rocking speed of the seat 2 has the certain level.

The message output timing determination part 38 determines the timingthat carries out an operation of outputting the message stored in themessage storage part 36 a. In the embodiment, the message output timingdetermination part 38 determines a time interval from the last messageoutput timing to next message output timing at random, as if aninstructor guides. Further, the message output timing determination part38 determines the next message output timing by using the determinedtime interval.

The time counting part 39 counts an elapsed time from the last messageoutput timing, in order to check whether or not the present time reachesthe message output timing determined by the message output timingdetermination part 38.

The rocking speed detector 40 detects rocking speed of the seat 2. Theinclination state detector 41 detects an inclination state of the seat2. In the exercising apparatus 1 of the embodiment, the inclinationstate and the rocking speed of the seat 2 at each point of time areprogrammed by a pre-designed program. The rocking speed detector 40 andthe inclination state detector 41 extract the rocking speed and theinclination state of the seat 2 at approximately the same timing as themessage output timing determined by the message output timingdetermination part from the above-mentioned program. Alternatively, therocking speed detector 40 and the inclination state detector 41 maydetect the rocking speed and the inclination state of the seat 2 byusing a sensor.

The output message determination part 42 selects one message among aplurality of messages at random as if an instructor guides, wherein theplurality of messages are prepared with regard to the combination of therocking speed detected by the rocking speed detector 40 and theinclination state detected by the inclination state detector 41. Thus,the output message determination part 42 determines the selected messageas a target message to be outputted.

When the time counted by the time counting part 39 reaches to themessage output timing determined by the message output timingdetermination part 38, the message output control part 43 causes thesound output part 33 to output the message determined by the outputmessage determination part 42.

FIG. 10 is a flow chart showing message output process by the controlunit 37. Here, the explanation will be given assuming that either of theadvanced mode and the beginner mode has already been selected.

As shown in FIG. 10, the message output timing determination part 38determines a time interval from the last message output timing to thenext message output timing at random, as if an instructor guides (StepS1).

Next, the control unit 37 checks whether or not the time interval,determined by the above-mentioned message output timing determinationpart 38, is less than or equal to a residual time from the present timeto the time of completing the play (Step S2). If the time intervalexceeds the residual time (“NO” in Step S2), the process proceeds toStep S9.

On the other hand, when the control unit 37 checks that the timeinterval determined by the message output timing determination part 38is less than or equal to the residual time in step S2 (“YES” in StepS2), the rocking speed detector 40 detects the rocking speed of the seat2 at the present time (Step S3), and the inclination state detector 41detects the inclination state of the seat 2 at the present time (StepS4). Strictly speaking, the rocking speed and the inclination state ofthe seat 2 detected in Steps S3 and S4 are not identical to those at themessage output timing determined by the message output timingdetermination part 38. However, since the process as shown in the flowchart of FIG. 10 is carried out within a very short cycle, the rockingspeed and the inclination state of the seat 2 can be regarded as beingsame to those at the message output timing determined by the messageoutput timing determination unit 38 (this applies in other embodiments).

Next, the output message determination part 42 extracts, from themessage storage part 36 a, the messages prepared with regard to thecombination of the rocking speed detected by the rocking speed detector40 in Step S3 and the inclination state detected by the inclinationstate detector 41 in Step S4 (Step S5). Among the extracted messages,one message is selected as if an instructor guides, and the message isdetermined as a target message to be outputted (Step S6).

The message output control part 43 checks whether or not the timecounted by the time counting part 39 reaches to the message outputtiming specified by the time interval, which is determined by themessage output timing determination part 38 in Step S1 (Step S7). Whenchecking that the time has reached to the message output timing, themessage output control part 43 causes the sound output part to outputthe message determined by the output message determination part 42 (StepS8). On the other hand, in Step S7, when the message output control part43 checks that the time has not reached to the message output timing,the process returns to Step S3 and Steps S3 to S6 are carried out.

Then, the control unit 37 checks whether or not the time has reached tothe timing of completing the play (Step S9). When checking that the timehas not reached to the timing of completing the play (“NO” in Step S9),the process returns to Step S1. On the other hand, when checking thatthe time has reached to the timing (“YES” in Step S9), the control unit37 turns off the exercising apparatus 1 (Step S10) to complete a seriesof process.

As described above, the present embodiment is provided with the functioncapable of outputting the messages with regard to advices for guidinguser's postures to be appropriate in a real time manner, so that theuser's posture can be guided to be appropriate.

Further, since the present embodiment determines the message and theoutput timing thereof at random as if an instructor guides, theexercising apparatus 1 allows users to hold such a feeling that aninstructor guides themselves, thereby improving its attractiveness.

Second Embodiment

The second embodiment is identical to the first embodiment in that theseembodiments output a message pre-associated with a combination of therocking speed detected by the rocking speed detector 40 and theinclination state detected by the inclination state detector 41.However, the second embodiment differs from the first embodiment in thatthe second embodiment pre-determines an output order of outputting eachmessage such that a user can perform more effective exercises andoutputs a message according to the output order, whereas the firstembodiment randomly selects one message from a plurality of messages andoutputs the message as if an instructor guides.

Note that only the difference from the first embodiment will beexplained and an explanation about the other configurations same asthose of the first embodiment will be omitted. Since the exercisingapparatus in accordance with the present embodiment has the samestructure as that shown in FIG. 1, the explanation will be made byutilizing FIG. 1. FIGS. 11 and 12 show exemplary messages prepared inthe case where the inclination state of the seat 2 is a “forwardinclination” and the rocking speeds of the seat 2 have certain levels of“1” to “3”.

Further, as shown in FIGS. 11 and 12, in the present embodiment, aplurality of messages are prepared for each of combinations of theinclination state of the seat 2 and the rocking speeds of the seat 2,respectively. Furthermore, in this embodiment, each message has anoutput order among the messages corresponding to the combination, andthe message storage part 36 a stores the output order of each message.

For instance, as shown in FIG. 11, when seven messages are prepared inthe case where the inclination state of the seat 2 is a “forwardinclination” and the rocking speed of the seat 2 has a certain level(e.g., level “1”), the output orders from “1” to “7” are set to each ofthe messages, respectively.

When the exercising apparatus 1 is provided with two modes havingdifferent difficulties and loads in strength and speed of the rockingmotion, FIGS. 11 and 12 show exemplary messages for the modes,respectively. Namely, FIG. 11 shows the messages for the beginner modeof which difficulties and loads are relatively low. FIG. 12 shows themessage for the advanced mode of which difficulties and loads arerelatively high.

The output message determination part 42 selects a message having theoutput order in which the message should be outputted at this time anddetermines the message as a target message to be outputted, wherein themessage is selected among the plurality of messages corresponding to thecombination of the rocking speed detected by the rocking speed detector40 and the inclination state detected by the inclination state detector41.

For instance, in the advanced mode shown in FIG. 12, assume that theinclination state of the seat 2 detected by the inclination statedetector 41 is a “forward inclination” and the rocking speed of the seat2 detected by the rocking speed detector 40 has a certain level (e.g.,level “1”). When the order of “1” has been selected at the previous timeso that the message of “tilt your upper half body backwardly a little”has been outputted, the output message determination part 42 selects theorder of “2” at this time (next time). Accordingly, the message of “moveyour waist according to the motion so as not to swing your head” isdetermined as a target message to be outputted.

FIG. 13 is a flow chart showing message output process by the controlunit 37. Here, the following explanation will be given on the assumptionthat either of the advanced mode and the beginner mode has been alreadychosen.

As shown in FIG. 13, the message output timing determination part 38determines a time interval from the last message output timing to thenext message output timing at random (Step S11). Next, the control unit37 checks whether or not the time interval, determined by theabove-mentioned message output timing determination part 38, is lessthan or equal to a residual time from the present time to the time ofcompleting the play (Step S111). When the time interval exceeds theresidual time (“NO” in Step S111), the process proceeds to Step S17.

On the other hand, when the control unit 37 checks that the timeinterval determined by the message output timing determination part 38is less than or equal to the residual time in step S111 (“YES” in StepS111), the rocking speed detector 40 detects the rocking speed of theseat 2 at the present time (Step S12), and the inclination statedetector 41 detects the inclination state of the seat 2 at the presenttime (Step S13).

The output message determination part 42 selects a message having theoutput order in which the message should be outputted at this time,according to the order data stored in the message storage part 36 a, anddetermines the message as a target message to be outputted, wherein themessage is selected from a plurality of messages corresponding to thecombination of the rocking speed detected by the rocking speed detector40 in Step S12 and the inclination state detected by the inclinationstate detector 41 in Step S13 (Step S14).

The message output control unit 43 checks whether or not the timecounted by the time counting part 39 reaches to the message outputtiming specified by the time interval, which is determined by themessage output timing determination part 38 in Step S11 (Step S15). Whenchecking that the time has reached to the message output timing (“YES”in Step S15), the message output control part 43 causes the sound outputpart 33 to output the message determined by the output messagedetermination part 42 (Step S16). On the other hand, in Step S15, whenthe message output control part 43 checks that the time has not reachedto the message output timing, the process returns to Step S12 and StepsS12 to Step S14 are carried out.

Then, the control unit 37 checks whether or not the time has reached tothe timing of completing the play (Step S17). When checking that thetime has not reached to the play completing timing yet (“NO” in StepS17), the process returns to Step S11. When checking that the time hasreached to the timing of completing the play (“YES” in Step S17), thecontrol unit 37 turns off a power supply of the exercising apparatus 1(Step S18), and a series of process is completed.

As described above, the present embodiment is provided with the functioncapable of outputting the messages with regard to advices for guiding auser's posture to be appropriate in a real time manner, so that theuser's posture can be guided to be appropriate.

Further, since the present embodiment determines the output timing ofthe message at random as if an instructor guides, the exercisingapparatus 1 allows users to hold such a feeling that an instructorguides themselves, thereby improving its attractiveness.

Furthermore, the output order of the messages is pre-determined suchthat a user is provided with an effective exercise, and the messages areoutputted according to the order. Thus, the user can perform moreeffective exercise than the first embodiment.

Generally, in the exercising apparatus 1, an amount of displacement fromthe appropriate posture increases as it comes closer to user's headamong portions of user's body. Accordingly, providing the user with anadvice or instruction with regard to the posture of user's head orportion close to user's head is considered to be more effective forcorrecting user's posture, compared with providing the user with anadvice or instruction with regard to the posture of user's portion farfrom user's head (a portion close to user's waist).

In consideration of this point, by pre-setting an order in whichmessages should be outputted and outputting the messages according tothe order, a user is allowed to perform an effective and efficientexercise.

Third Embodiment

The third embodiment is identical to the first and second embodiments inthat these embodiments output a message corresponding to the combinationof the rocking speed detected by the rocking speed detector 40 and theinclination state detected by the inclination state detector 41.However, the third embodiment is different from the first and secondembodiments in that a time schedule for outputting messages ispre-determined and the messages are outputted according to the timeschedule.

Note that only the difference from the first and second embodiments willbe explained and an explanation about the other configurations same asthose of the first and second embodiments will be omitted. Since anexercising apparatus in accordance with the present embodiment also hasthe same structure as that shown in FIG. 1, the explanation will be madeby utilizing FIG. 1.

As shown in FIG. 14, in the present embodiment, a plurality of messagesare prepared for each of combinations of the inclination state of theseat 2, the rocking speed of the seat 2, and an elapsed time from astart point of a play. The message storage part 36 a stores themessages, which are prepared for each of the combinations of theinclination state of the seat 2, the rocking speed of the seat 2, andthe elapsed time from a start point of a play.

For instance, as indicated by a mark “A” in FIG. 14, seven messages areprepared in the case where an elapsed time from a start point of a playis “60 to 90 seconds”, in addition to the case where the inclinationstate of the seat 2 is a “forward inclination” and the rocking speed ofthe seat 2 has a certain level (e.g., level “1”).

The output message determination part 42 extracts a plurality ofmessages corresponding to the combination of the rocking speed detectedby the rocking speed detector 40, the inclination state detected by theinclination state detector 41, and the elapsed time from the start pointof the play. Further, the output message determination part 42 randomlyselects one message among the plurality of extracted messages as if aninstructor guides, and determines the selected message as a targetmessage to be outputted.

For instance, in the case where the inclination state of the seat 2 is a“forward inclination”, the rocking speed of the seat 2 has a level “1”,and an elapsed time from a start point of a play is “60 to 90 seconds”,the output message determination part 42 extracts the plurality ofmessages indicated by a mark “A”. Next, the output message determinationpart 42 randomly selects one message among the plurality of messages asif an instructor guides. In this case, the message is, for example,“look forward straightly with your eyes” as indicated by a mark “B”.Finally, the output message determination part 42 determines the messageas a target message to be outputted.

Further, in the same inclination state and rocking speed, when theelapsed time from the start point of the play becomes “more than 90seconds”, one message is selected at random among a plurality ofmessages corresponding to the combination as if an instructor guides,and the message is outputted.

FIG. 15 is a flow chart showing message output process by the controlunit 37.

As shown in FIG. 15, the message output timing determination part 38determines a time interval from the last message output timing to thenext one at random (Step S21). Next, the control unit 37 checks whetheror not the time interval determined by the message output timingdetermination part 38 is less than or equal to a residual time from thepresent time to the time of completing the play (Step S211). When thetime interval exceeds the remaining time (“NO” in Step S211), theprocess proceeds to Step S28.

On the other hand, when the control unit 37 checks that the timeinterval determined by the message output timing determination part 38is less than or equal to the residual time in step S211 (“YES” in StepS211), the rocking speed detector 40 detects the rocking speed of theseat 2 at the present time (Step S22), and the inclination statedetector 41 detects the inclination state of the seat 2 at the presenttime (Step S23). Further, the output message determination part 42detects the elapsed time from a start point of the play (Step S24).

The output message determination part 42 extracts a plurality ofmessages corresponding to a combination of the rocking speed detected bythe rocking speed detector 40, the inclination state detected by theinclination state detector 41, and the time elapsed from the start pointof the play. Then, the output message determination part 42 randomlyselects one message among the extracted messages and determines themessage as a target message to be outputted (Step S25).

Subsequently, the message output control part 43 checks whether or not atime counted by the time count part 39 reaches to a message outputtiming specified by the time interval determined by the message outputtiming determination part 38 (Step S26). When checking that the time hasreached the message output timing (“YES” in Step S26), the messageoutput control section 43 causes the sound output part 33 to output themessage determined by the output message determination part 42 (StepS27). On the other hand, in Step S26, when the message output controlsection 43 checks that the time has not reached to the message outputtiming, the process returns to Step S22, and Steps S22 to Step S24 arecarried out.

Next, the control unit 37 checks whether or not the time has reached tothe timing of completing the play (Step S28). When checking that thetime has not reached to the message output timing (“NO” in Step S28),the process returns to Step 21. On the other hand, when checking thatthe time has reached the timing of completing the play (“YES” in StepS28), the control part 37 turns off the power supply of the exerciseapparatus 1 (Step S29), and a series of process is completed.

As described above, the present embodiment is provided with the functioncapable of outputting the messages with regard to advices for guiding auser's posture to be appropriate in a real time manner, so that theuser's posture can be guided to be appropriate.

By outputting messages according to the time schedule, this embodimentcan output the message depending on user's fatigue or the like, therebyenabling the user to perform more effective exercises than that of thefirst embodiment.

Here, as an aspect of outputting the messages according to the timeschedule, the elapsed time from the start point of the play is dividedinto a plurality of time ranges, and a plurality of messages areprepared for each of the time ranges. One message is selected at randomamong the plurality of messages corresponding to the time rangeincluding the present time, and the message is outputted. However, thepresent invention is not limited to the above. For instance, as shown inFIG. 16, messages may be outputted at a certain time interval (e.g., atevery 5 seconds) which starts from the starting point of the play andmessages may be pre-determined depending on the inclination state andthe rocking speed of the seat 2 at their output timings (elapsed time),so that the messages respectively corresponding to the message outputtimings are outputted.

Fourth Embodiment

In this embodiment, a plurality of inappropriate postures occurring in acombination of an inclination state and a rocking speed of the seat 2(hereinafter referred to as “inappropriate posture”) are previously set.Besides, a message that should be outputted for each of theinappropriate postures is pre-assumed. For the inappropriate postures,occurrence ranks are sequentially assigned thereto from one having ahigher probability of occurrence, and messages therefor are outputtedaccording to the ranks.

Note that only the difference from the above-mentioned embodiments willbe explained and an explanation about the other configurations same asthose of the aforementioned embodiments will be omitted. Since anexercising apparatus in accordance with the present embodiment also hasthe same structure as that shown in FIG. 1, the explanation will be madeby using FIG. 1.

As shown in FIGS. 17A and 17B, in this embodiment, a plurality ofmessages are prepared for each of combinations of the inclination stateof the seat 2 and the rocking speed of seat 2. Here, in this embodiment,a plurality of inappropriate postures occurring in a combination of aninclination state and a rocking speed of the seat 2 are previously set,and a message that should be outputted for each of the inappropriatepostures is prepared one by one. Furthermore, occurrence ranks arepreviously assigned to the inappropriate postures from one having ahigher probability of occurrence.

As indicated by a mark “C” in FIG. 17A, seven inappropriate postures of“upper half body inclines forward”, “head swings”, “face turnsdownward”, “one relies on handle”, “shoulders are stiffened”, “foot restswings”, and “foot rest rises in an opposite direction” are previouslyset, wherein the postures are possible to occur in the case where theinclination state of the seat 2 is a “forward inclination” and therocking speed of the seat 2 has a level “1”. At the same time, suchmessages as “stretch your upper half body straightly”, “move your waistaccording to the motion so as not to swing your head”, “look forwardstraightly with your eyes”, “keep your balance by using your waistwithout relying on the handle”, “relieve your shoulder”, “keep raisingthe foot rest up forwardly a little”, and “raise the foot rest upforwardly” are prepared for the corresponding inappropriate postures oneby one.

Furthermore, the seven inappropriate postures, i.e., “upper half bodyinclines forward”, “face turns downward”, “shoulders are stiffened”,“head swings”, “one relies on handle”, “foot rest swings”, and “footrest rises in an opposite direction”, occur in the order of increasingits probability, so that the occurrence ranks are determined in thisorder. Note that, with regard to the levels of “1” to “3” of the rockingspeed shown in FIGS. 17A and 17B, level “1” denotes the minimum rockingspeed, and level “3” denotes the maximum rocking speed.

The output message determination part 42 determines the occurrence ranksof the inappropriate postures as the output order of the messagesprepared for the respective inappropriate postures, wherein the messagescorrespond to the combination of the rocking speed detected by therocking speed detector 40 and the inclination state detected by theinclination state detector 41.

Namely, the output message determination part 42 determines the outputorder of the messages prepared for the inappropriate postures, i.e.,“stretch your upper half body straightly”, “look straight forwardly withyour eyes”, “relieve your shoulders”, “move your waist according to themotion so as not to swing your head”, “keep your balance with your waistwithout relying on the handle”, “keep raising the foot rest up forwardlya little”, and “raise the foot rest up forwardly” in this order, in thecase where the inclination state of the seat 2 is a “forwardlyinclination” and the rocking speed of the seat 2 has the level “1”.

The output message determination part 42 selects a message to beoutputted according to this output order of the message. For instance,the case is supposed that the inclination state of the seat 2 is a“forwardly inclination” and the rocking speed of the seat 2 has thelevel “1”. When outputting the third message among the plurality ofmessages indicated by a mark “C”, the output message determination part42 selects the message of “relieve your shoulders” corresponding to theinappropriate posture of “shoulders are stiffened” having the thirdprobability of occurrence.

FIG. 18 is a flow chart showing message output process controlled by thecontrol unit 37.

As shown in FIG. 18, the message output timing determination part 38determines a time interval from the last message output timing to thenext message output timing at random (Step S31). Next, the controlsection 37 checks whether or not the time interval, determined by themessage output timing determination part 38, is less than or equal to aresidual time from the present time to the time of completing a play(Step S311). When the time interval exceeds the residual time (“NO” inStep S311), the process proceeds to Step S37.

On the other hand, when the control unit 37 checks that the timeinterval determined by the message output timing determination part 38is less than or equal to the residual time in step S211 (“YES” in StepS211), the rocking speed detector 40 detects the rocking speed of theseat 2 at the present time (Step S32), and the inclination statedetector 41 detects the inclination state of the seat 2 at the presenttime (Step S33).

The output message determination part 42 determines the message to beoutputted based upon the combination of the rocking speed detected bythe rocking speed detector 40 in Step S32, the inclination statedetected by the inclination state detector 41 in Step S33, and theoutput order of the message (Step S34).

The message output control unit 43 checks whether or not the timecounted by the time counting part 39 reaches to the message outputtiming specified by the time interval, which is determined by themessage output timing determination part 38 (Step S35). When checkingthat the time has reached to the message output timing (“YES” in StepS35), the message output control part 43 causes the sound output part 33to output the message determined by the output message determinationpart 42 (Step S36). On the other hand, in Step S35, when the messageoutput control part 43 checks that the time has not reached to themessage output timing, the process returns to Step S32 and Steps S32 toS34 are carried out.

Then, the control unit 37 checks whether or not the time has reached tothe timing of completing the play (Step S37). When checking that thetime has not reached to the play completing timing yet (“NO” in StepS37), the process returns to Step S31. On the other hand, when checkingthat the time has reached the timing of completing the play (“YES” inStep S37), the control unit 37 turns off a power supply of theexercising apparatus 1 (Step S38), and a series of process is completed.

As described above, the present embodiment is provided with the functioncapable of outputting the messages with regard to advices for guiding auser's posture to be appropriate in a real time manner, so that theuser's posture can be guided to be appropriate.

Further, since the present embodiment determines the output timing ofthe message at random as if an instructor guides, the exercisingapparatus 1 allows users to hold such a feeling that an instructorguides themselves, thereby improving its attractiveness.

Furthermore, in the present embodiment, the inappropriate posturesoccurring in the combination of the inclination state and the rockingspeed of the seat 2 are previously set. Besides, the messages for therespective inappropriate postures are prepared, the output order thereofis determined in accordance with the degree of the probability ofoccurrence, and the messages are outputted in accordance with the outputorder. Accordingly, the user can take more appropriate postures than inthe first embodiment, thereby enabling the user to perform moreeffective exercises.

Fifth Embodiment

The fifth embodiment is identical to the fourth embodiment in that theseembodiments previously set a plurality of inappropriate posturesoccurring in a combination of an inclination state and a rocking speedof the seat 2 and pre-determine a message that should be outputted foreach of the inappropriate postures. However, the fifth embodiment isdifferent from the fourth embodiment in that a message corresponding tothe inappropriate posture having a higher probability of occurrence isoutputted more frequently than a message corresponding to theinappropriate posture having a lower probability of occurrence while themessages corresponding to the inappropriate postures are outputted inthe order of increasing the probability of occurrence in the forthembodiment.

Note that only the difference from the above-mentioned embodiments willbe explained and an explanation about the other configurations same asthose of the aforementioned embodiments will be omitted. Since anexercising apparatus in accordance with the present embodiment also hasthe same structure as that shown in FIG. 1, the explanation will be madeby using FIG. 1.

The message storage part 36 a of this embodiment stores a table similarto that of the fourth embodiment (e.g., the table as shown in FIGS. 17Aand 17B).

Based on the rocking speed and the inclination state detected by therocking speed detector 40 and the inclination state detector 41, theoutput message determination part 42 recognizes the probability ofoccurrence of the inappropriate postures associated with the combinationof the rocking speed and the inclination state. Subsequently, the outputmessage determination part 42 determines an output sequence of themassages prepared for the respective inappropriate postures, accordingto a predetermined rule in which a message corresponding to theinappropriate posture having a higher probability of occurrence isoutputted more frequently than a message corresponding to theinappropriate posture having a lower probability of occurrence.

As indicated by a mark “C” in FIG. 17A, for instance, seveninappropriate postures of “upper half body inclines forward”, “faceturns downward”, “shoulders are stiffened”, “head swings”, “one relieson handle”, “foot rest swings”, and “foot rest rises in an oppositedirection” are previously set, wherein the postures are possible tooccur in the case where the inclination state of the seat 2 is a“forward inclination” and the rocking speed of the seat 2 has a level“1”. When the occurrence ranks “1” to “7” are set in the above order,the output sequence of the messages is determined such that a messagecorresponding to the inappropriate posture having a higher probabilityof occurrence is outputted more frequently than a message correspondingto the inappropriate posture having a lower probability of occurrence.Specifically, for example, the output sequence of the messages is asfollows: the occurrence rank “1”→the occurrence rank “2”→the occurrencerank “1”→the occurrence rank “3”→the occurrence rank “1”→the occurrencerank “2”→the occurrence rank “1”→the occurrence rank “4”. . . .

FIGS. 19A and 19B are a flow chart showing message output processcontrolled by the control unit 37.

As shown in FIGS. 19A and 19B, the message output timing determinationpart 38 determines a time interval from the last message output timingto the next message output timing at random (Step S41). Next, thecontrol unit 37 checks whether or not the time interval, determined bythe message output timing determination part 38, is less than or equalto a residual time from the present time to the time of completing aplay (Step S411). When the time interval exceeds the residual time (“NO”in Step S411), the process proceeds to Step S48.

On the other hand, when the control unit 37 checks that the timeinterval determined by the message output timing determination part 38is less than or equal to the residual time in step S211 (“YES” in StepS211), the rocking speed detector 40 detects the rocking speed of theseat 2 at the present time (Step S42), and the inclination statedetector 41 detects the inclination state of the seat 2 at the presenttime (Step S43).

The output message determination part 42 recognizes messagescorresponding to the combination of the rocking speed detected by therocking speed detector 40 in Step S32 and the inclination state detectedby the inclination state detector 41 in Step S43 (Step S44), anddetermines the output sequence of the massages prepared for theinappropriate postures, according to the predetermined rule in which amessage corresponding to the inappropriate posture having a higherprobability of occurrence is outputted more frequently than a messagecorresponding to the inappropriate posture having a lower probability ofoccurrence (Step S45).

The message output control unit 43 checks whether or not the timecounted by the time counting part 39 reaches to the message outputtiming specified by the time interval, which is determined by themessage output timing determination part 38 in Step S41 (Step S46). Whenchecking that the time has reached to the message output timing (“YES”in Step S46), the message output control part 43 causes the sound outputpart 33 to output the message determined by the output messagedetermination part 42 (Step S47). On the other hand, in Step S46, whenthe message output control part 43 checks that the time has not reachedto the message output timing, the process returns to Step S42 and StepsS42 to Step S45 are carried out.

The control unit 37 checks whether the time has reached the timing ofcompleting the play (Step S48). When the control section 37 checks thatthe time has not reached to the timing of completing the play, themessage output timing determination part 38 randomly determines the timeinterval from the last message output timing to the next message outputtiming as if an instructor guides. The rocking speed detector 40 and theinclination state detector 41 detect the rocking speed and theinclination state of the seat 2 at the present time, respectively (StepsS50, S51).

In the case where both the rocking speed and the inclination state haveno change from the last detection values (“NO” in Step S52), the processreturns to Step S46. On the other hand, in the case where at least oneof the rocking speed and the inclination state has any change from thelast detection value (“YES” in Step S52), the process returns to StepS44.

Meanwhile, when checking that the time has reached to the timing ofcompleting the play in Step S48 (“YES” in Step S48), the control unit 37turns off the power supply of the exercising apparatus 1 (Step S53) anda series of process is completed.

As described above, the present embodiment is also provided with thefunction capable of outputting the messages with regard to advices forguiding a user's posture to be appropriate in a real time manner, sothat the user's posture can be guided to be appropriate.

Further, since the present embodiment determines the output timing ofthe message at random as if an instructor guides, the exercisingapparatus 1 allows users to hold such a feeling that an instructorguides themselves, thereby improving its attractiveness.

Furthermore, in the present embodiment, inappropriate postures, whichare possible to occur in the combination of the inclination state andthe rocking speed of the seat 2, are previously set and the messages forthe respective inappropriate postures are prepared. Besides, the outputsequence of the massages are determined such that a messagecorresponding to the inappropriate posture having a higher probabilityof occurrence is outputted more frequently than a message correspondingto the inappropriate posture having a lower probability of occurrence,and the messages are outputted in this sequence. As a result, the usercan take a posture more appropriate than in the first embodiment, andfurther the user can perform effective exercises.

The following modifications can be made instead of the above-mentionedembodiments, or in addition to the above-mentioned embodiments.

[1] Although each of the embodiments outputs messages by using audiblesound, without being limited to this, it is possible to output themessages visually by using a display or the like.

[2] It is more preferable that the exercising apparatus 1 of eachabove-mentioned embodiment is provided with the following functions:

(1) a function of pre-storing a plurality of messages depending upon atime of one day and outputting the message corresponding to the timewhen the time comes.

As shown in FIG. 20, a plurality of messages for urging a user to usethe exercising apparatus 1 are stored in the message storage part 36 a(refer to FIG. 8). Specifically, hours of one day are divided into aplurality of time zones, and then the message storage part 36 a storesthe messages depending upon the time zones. For instance, the messagestorage part 36 a stores a message depending on the time zone of “6:00to 8:00”, such as “Good morning!!, you are recommended to ridehorizontally at a speed level of “1” to “3” for waking up”, wherein themessage is stored in association with the time zone.

For instance, when the time becomes 6:00, the message output controlpart 43 causes the sound output part 33 to output the message of “Goodmorning!!, you are recommended to ride horizontally at a speed level of“1” to “3” for waking up”.

Adding such a function to the exercising apparatus 1 can stimulate theuser to use it.

(2) a function of alerting a user when the same user utilizes theexercising apparatus 1 excessively.

FIG. 22 is a flow chart showing warning process that is carried outbefore a user inputs a start command of a play.

As shown in FIG. 22, firstly, the control unit 37 specifies a user whois going to utilize the exercising apparatus 1 (Step S61). For example,the exercising apparatus 1 is provided with a function of registeringthe user and the user is specified based upon the operating signalscorresponding to the registered user via a button.

Next, the control unit 37 checks whether or not the same usersuccessively uses the exercising apparatus 1 (Step S62). If not so (“NO”in Step S62), the control unit 37 waits for the user to input the startcommand of the play. On the other hand, when checking that the same useris going to use the exercising apparatus 1 successively (“YES” in StepS62), the control section 37 calculates the use time of the user who isgoing to use the exercising apparatus 1 (Step S63) and checks whether ornot the using of the user within a predetermined duration exceeds apredetermined use limit time (e.g., whether or not the user will use theexercising apparatus 1 more than 30 minutes within 1 hour) (Step S64).

If not so (“NO” in Step S64), the control unit 37 waits for the user toinput the start command of the play. On the other hand, when checkingthat the user will use the exercising apparatus 1 more than thepredetermined use limit time within the predetermined duration (e.g.,the user will use the exercising apparatus 1 more than 30 minutes within1 hour) (“YES” in Step S64), the control unit 37 causes the sound outputpart 33 to output the message such as “It's not so good for your healthto exercise for a long time”, and waits for the user to input the startcommand of the play.

The addition of such function can prevent a user from excessivelyexercising by using the exercising apparatus 1.

Although it is described that the rocking speed and inclination state ofthe seat 2 are detected at the present time, the present invention isnot limited thereto. The present invention may be configured to detectthe rocking speed and inclination state of the seat 2 at the messageoutput timing by a program.

Furthermore, although it is described in the above-mentioned embodimentsthat the rocking speed and the inclination state of the seat 2 aredetected and the message corresponding thereto is extracted from themessage storage part 36 a, the present invention is not limited thereto.The present invention may be configured to detect either of the rockingspeed and the inclination state of the seat 2 and extract the messagecorresponding thereto from the message storage part 36 a.

While the invention has been shown and described with respect to theembodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art thatvarious changes and modifications may be made without departing from thescope of the invention as defined in the following claims.

1. An exercising apparatus comprising: a movable unit on which a userstraddles; a driving unit for driving the movable unit, the driving unitchanging a state of the movable unit to provide the user with anexercising load; a message output part for outputting messagescorresponding to the user's postures repeatedly during a period ofproviding the user with an exercising load; an output timingdetermination part for determining an output timing of the messages bythe message output part; a storage part that stores correspondingrelationships between the states of the movable unit and the messages;and a state detector for detecting the state of the movable unit atapproximately the same timing as the output timing determined by theoutput timing determination part, wherein the message output partextracts the message corresponding to the state of the movable unitdetected by the state detector from the storage part and outputs theextracted message at the output timing determined by the output timingdetermination part.
 2. The exercising apparatus as set forth in claim 1,wherein the state of the movable unit includes an inclination state ofthe movable unit, and wherein the storage part stores the messages whichinclude a plurality of messages prepared depending on the inclinationstate of the movable unit, and the message output part extracts one ofthe plurality of messages corresponding to the inclination state of themovable unit detected by the state detector from the storage part andoutputs the extracted message.
 3. The exercising apparatus as set forthin claim 1, wherein the state of the movable unit includes a rockingspeed of the movable unit, and wherein the storage part stores themessages which include a plurality of messages prepared depending on therocking speed of the movable unit, and the message output part extractsone of the plurality of messages corresponding to the rocking speed ofthe movable unit detected by the state detector from the storage partand outputs the extracted message.
 4. The exercising apparatus as setforth in claim 1, wherein the state of the movable unit includes arocking speed and an inclination state of the movable unit, and whereinthe storage part stores the messages which include a plurality ofmessages prepared depending on the rocking speed and the inclinationstate of the movable unit, and the message output part extracts one ofthe plurality of messages corresponding to the rocking speed and theinclination state of the movable unit detected by the state detectorfrom the storage part and outputs the extracted message.
 5. Theexercising apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein the storage partstores a plurality of user's postures to be taken for each of the statesof the movable unit, and the messages which include a plurality ofmessages prepared for each of respective combinations of the states ofthe movable unit and the user's postures to be taken; and wherein themessage output part randomly selects one message, among the plurality ofmessages, corresponding to the user's posture for the state of themovable unit detected by the state detector, and outputs the selectedmessage.
 6. The exercising apparatus as set forth in claim 1, whereinthe output timing determination part determines the output timing of themessage at random.
 7. The exercising apparatus as set forth in claim 1,wherein the messages stored in the storage part include a plurality ofmessages which are prepared depending on an elapsed time from a startingpoint of the movable unit driven by the driving unit, and the messageoutput part extracts one of the plurality of messages associated withthe elapsed time from the starting point of the movable unit equivalentto the output timing determined by the output timing determination partand outputs the extracted message.
 8. The exercising apparatus as setforth in claim 1, wherein the storage part stores a plurality of user'spostures to be taken for each of the states of the movable unit, and themessages which include a plurality of messages prepared for each ofrespective combinations of the states of the movable unit and the user'spostures to be taken, and an output order of the plurality of messagesprepared for each of the states of the movable unit; and the messageoutput part outputs the plurality of messages corresponding to the stateof the movable unit detected by the state detector, according to theoutput order of the plurality of messages stored in the storage part. 9.The exercising apparatus as set forth in claim 8, wherein the outputorder of the plurality of messages is determined based upon aprobability of occurrence of each of the user's postures to be takendepending on the state of the movable unit.
 10. The exercising apparatusas set forth in claim 8, wherein the output order of the plurality ofmessages is determined according to an order capable of guiding theuser's posture to be appropriate effectively.